Device for recovering fuzes



F. H. BEACH ET AL DEVICE FOR RECOVERING FUZES Filed July 20, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. F. H". BEACH BY WQE. ALBERT JR. /4LO.

ATTYS.

May 13, 1958 v F. H, BEACH ETAL DEVICE FOR RECOVERING FUZES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1951 3 m mu 1 1m mm r /7 8. EX k p 3 5 2 W E. 7 E. w? 6 mm mm m Ont 8 mv mm mm K INVENTORS. F. H. BEACH @MBERT'JR. MOM

ATTYS.

May 13, 1958 F. H. BEACH ET AL DEVICE FOR RECOVERING FUZES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 20, 1951 INVENTORS. F. H. BEACH BY M0 W. E. ALBERT JR.

DEVICE FGR RECOVERING FUZES Frederick H. Beach, Kensington, Md, and Waldo E. Albert, Jr., Ossiau, Ind.

Application July 20, 1951, Serial No. 237,812

(Ilaims. (Cl. 102-89) (Granted under Title 35, U. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to a projectile and more particularly to a device for recording information as the projectile is fired from a gun and travels along a trajectory whereupon the information may be recovered when the inner container thereof having various instruments sealed therein is gently floated to the ground after the forward motion of the inner container has decreased to a minimum degree.

The projectile consists of a pair of cylindrical members or containers detachably secured together, the inner container having a nose 'fuze secured to the nose portion thereof and suitable recording instruments enclosed and sealed therein for recording the spin, velocity, vibration, temperature variations and the positive and negative set back forces to which the projectile is subjected as the projectile is fired from the gun and during the travel thereof along a trajectory, the members being adapted to be separated during the aforesaid travel of the projectile whereupon the inner container thereof is gently floated to the ground without damage to the delicate instruments therein and thus facilitating recovery of the aforesaid instruments for a complete check and study of the recorded information thereon.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved projectile adapted to be fired from a gun and having an inner container separable therefrom during the flight of the projectile and in which suitable recording instruments are arranged and adapted to be recovered after the forward velocity of the container has decreased sufficiently to permit the container to be gently floated to the ground.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a projectile adapted to be fired from a gun and having means for rendering the inner container thereof in which suitable recording instruments are arranged recoverable.

Another object is the provision of a projectile comprising an inner and outer container detachably secured together and having means released in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from a gun and ejected into the air stream as the projectile travels along the trajectory for transmitting a drag on the inner container whereupon the inertia of the heavier outer body or container causes it to slide forward and to become shucked off the inner container.

A further object is to provide a projectile having a pilot member releasably secured to and maintained within the inner container thereof and adapted to be ejected therefrom into the air stream and to drag a main parachute from the container when the pilot member is released from the container.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciatedas the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 shows in diagrammatic form the flight and operation of the device of the present invention along a trajectory after being fired from a gun; I

2,834,293 Patented May 13, 1958 Fig. 2 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section of the fuze of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the fuze; v

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal view'of the mechanism for releasing the pilot member from the inner container of the projectile;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the mechanism in a release position; and

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show in diagrammatic form the inner container of the projectile after the outer casing has been detached therefrom and during the travel thereof along a trajectory.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig- 2 thereof, the projectile of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference character 10 and comprises a pair of concentric members 11 and 12, the outer member 11 being of cylindrical form and disposed about and detachably secured to the inner member or casing 12. The member 11 is provided with an annular sleeve 13 of any material suitable for the purpose such,

- for example, as a brass band adapted to be engaged by the rifling of the gun as the projectile is propelledtherethrough by the force of the explosion as the gun is fired whereupon rotative movement is imparted to the projectile.

A base plug 14 is detachably secured to the outer member 11 as by dowel pins 15 attached to the plug in any suitable manner such, for example, as having a pressed fit in suitable openings 16 formed therein and extending into bores 17 formed in the body 11, and in slip fit relation with respect thereto. As most clearly shown on Fig. 3 the member 11 and plug 14 are releasably locked together by a shear pin or wire 18 secured to the member 11 and extending into openings 19 formed in the pins 15 and disposed Within bores 21 provided in the plug. It will be understood, however, that the member 11 and plug 14 are adapted to be released when the pins 18 are sheared in response to a predetermined force applied thereto. The plug 14 has formed thereon, Fig. 3, a boss 22 having a bore 23 disposed therein in which is threaded a tracer 24 adapted to be ignited as the projectile 10 is fired from the gun and to provide a visible signal for a predetermined period of time during the travel of the projectile along the trajectory and before the recovery mechanism has functioned.

The inner member or container comprises a cylindrical body 25 having a nose portion 26 formed on one end thereof to which is secured a nose fuze or plug 27, the other or open end of the body 25 being closed by a disc 28 formed on the support 29 in abutting engagement with the inner surface of plug 14 and a flange 31 formed on the pilot member 32 in abutting engagement with the flanged end 33 of the body 25. As most clearly shown on Fig. 2, the member 25 has disposed therein a disc or partition 34 secured thereto as by screws 30, the partition being arranged substantially midway between the end thereof and thus a pair of chambers 35 and 36 is provided within the member 25. The chamber 35 has suit able recording instruments arranged therein for recording the spin, velocity, vibration, temperature variations and positive and negative set back forces to which the projectile is subjected as the projectile is fired from a gun and during the travel thereof along the trajectory, the chamber 36 having arranged therein means for causing the inner container to be gently floated to the ground when the outer casing has been detached therefrom and the forward velocity of the projectile has decreased to a minimum value.

A boss 37, Fig. 3, is formed on the support 29, the boss having a bore 38 extending therethrough in which is threaded a time .delay fuze 39, the .fuze being of con- 3. ventiona'l construction and disposed within the pilot member 32 and settable at will to different settings whereupon the fuze may be set to function in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of theprojectile from the gun.

As shown .most clearly on Fig. 3, a well 41 is formed in the plug 14 in communication with the bore 33, the well 41 being in communication with a pressure chamber 42 by Way of complementary ports 43 formed in the plug 14 and support 29. By this arrangement it will be understood that when the time delay fuze 39 functions in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from the gun, the explosive charge 40 is fired thereby, the force of the explosion being directed against the bottom wall of well 41 and into chamber 42 by way of ports 43. The explosion of the charge has sufficient force to shear the pins 18 and blow the base plug 14 from the container 11 and concurrently therewith and in response to the pressure within chamber 42 and the springs 50 arranged within recesses formed in the plug end of the projectile in abutting engagement with the container 12 and member 32, the member 32, base fuze 39 and the support 29 being ejected from the projectile whereupon the member 32 is launched into the airstream and the plug, springs and fuze assembly falls to the ground, Fig. 1.

The outer and inner members 11 and 12 are locked together against rotation by a plurality of tapered pins 42 one of which is shown on Fig. 2, the pins being disposed in complementary recesses 43' formed in the aforesaid members and thus the inner and outer members will be rotated as a unit as the projectile is fired from the gun and adapted to permit longitudinal movement of the outer member with respect to the inner member when the base plug and fuze have been detached therefrom in the aforesaid manner.

A released mechanism generally indicated by the reference 44 is secured to the inner container 12, the release mechanism being adapted to releasably attach the pilot member to the container 12, it being understood, that when the pilot member 32 is ejected into the airstream the initial shock load on the member 32 is transmitted to the inner container 12 whereupon the forward motion thereof is decreased and thus the inertia of the heavier outer body 11 causes it to slide forward and become detached from the inner body.. -When this occurs, the inner member is adapted to travel along the trajectory until the forward motion is spent.

The release mechanism comprises a casing 45 having a nipple 46 formed on one end thereof in threaded engagement with a bore 47 arranged in the partition whereupon the release mechanism is secured to the partition, the other end of the casing being threaded as at 48 for threaded engagement with a sealing cap 49 to which is secured as by threaded engagement therewith a sleeve 51. Slidably arranged within a chamber 52 formed in the casing 45 is a piston generally indicated by the numeral 53 and comprising a head 54, the head being disposed between a pair of guide members 55 and 56, The guide member 55 is carried on a valve assembly 62 and slidably disposed in a bore 57 arranged in' the nipple 46, the guide member 56 being slidably arranged in an opening 58 formed in the cap 49 and a complementary opening 59 formed in the support 61 secured within the cap 49 as by threaded engagement therewith, Figs. 4 and 5. Movement of the piston within the chamber 52 is controlled by a quantity of oil disposed Within the chamber and normally arranged to one side of the piston head 54, the movement of the oil to the other side of said head being controlled by the aforesaid valve assembly 62.

The valve assembly comprises a cage 63 disposed within a well 64 formed in the piston head 54 and secured thereto as, by threaded engagement therewith. Slidably disposed within the cage 63 and normally urged into engagement with the wall 65 defining the bottom of the well 64 by a spring 66 is a valve 67. The valve has formed thereon an annular flange 68 in engagement with an annular member 69 formed on the cage 63, the flange 67 having a pluralityiof ports or slots 71 arranged therein and adapted to permit the oil to flow from one side of the piston head to the other, when the valve is unseated by movement of the piston head toward the cap, by way of ports 72 formed in member 56 and ports 73 formedin member 55.

Slidably arranged within the sleeve 51 is a latch as sembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 74 and comprising a member 75 secured to the guide 56 as by threaded engagement therewith and having a lug 76 formed thereon in engagement with a complementary lug 77 formed on the member 78. By this arrangement the members 78 and 75 are releasably locked within the sleeve and are maintained locked by the sleeve 51 until the member 78 has been moved out of engagement with the sleeve 51, Fig. 5.

As shown more clearly on Fig. 6, one end of a flexible element 79 is secured to the releasable member 78 as at 81, the other end thereof being secured to the pilot member 32 as at 82 and thus the pilot member is releasably secured to the container 12 and adapted to be released therefrom when the member 78 has been moved out of engagement with the sleeve 51 in response to the pressure exerted thereon by the pilot member as the container.

12 travels along the trajectory. One end of a static line 83 is secured to the element 79 as at 34, the other end thereof being detachably secured to a parachute 85 as at 86 and normally arranged within the chamber 36 in such a manner as to be readily Withdrawn therefrom into the airstream by the static line 83 and the flexible element 7 when the member 72% has been disengaged from the container 12 as heretofore set forth.

As shown more clearly on Figs. 8 and 9, the parachute 85 is connected to the inner container 12 by a pair of flexible elements 60, one end of each element being se cured to the release mechanism 44 as at 70, the other ends thereof being secured to the shroud lines as at 29.

It will be understood, however, that the initial drag on the pilot member 32 as the member is released from the container 11 into the airstream tends to move the piston 53 and piston head 54 thereon toward the cap 49, such movement of the piston head 54 exerts an initial pressure on the valve 67 to force the valve against the tension of spring 66 to a closed position and in engagement with valve seat 87 formed in the valve cage 63. When this occurs, the pilot member 32 is locked to the container for a predetermined period of time and further movement of thepiston is prevented until the air pres sure. on the pilot member is reduced sufliciently to relieve the oil pressure on the valve whereupon the valve is moved to an open position by the spring 66 and thus the oil is forced through the ports 72, 71, and 73 to the other side of the piston head as the piston is gradually moved outwardly by the-pilot member in response to the air pressure thereagainst. It will be understood, however, that when the piston has been moved sufliciently, the member 78 is moved beyond the confining limits of sleeve 51 and the lugs 76 and 77 are disengaged and thus the parachute is Withdrawn from the chamber 36 by the elements 79 and 83, Fig. 7, in response to the air load on the pilot. member 32.

When the parachute has been fully extended the shock load on the pilot member is transmitted to the static line 83 whereupon the load thereon is sufficient to forcibly detach the static line from the parachute 85, Fig. 8, due to the aforesaid releasable connection of the static line to the parachute at 86 and thus the element 32, flexible member 79, and static line will fall to the ground and the container 12 will continue along the trajectory until the forward velocity has decreased sufficiently to permit the container 12 having the aforesaid recording instruments therein to be gently floated to the '5 ground to be recovered without damage to'the instru ments.

In view of the foregoing and with particular reference to Fig. l, the operation of the device will be clearly apparent, it being understood, however, that when the device is fired from a gun the tracer charge 24 is ignited to provide a visible signal until the recovery mechanism functions, thereafter and as the projectile travels along the trajectory the time fuze functions and causes the plug to be blown from the outer container thereby releasing the outer and inner containers and thus permitting longitudinal movement of the outer member with respect to the inner member and concurrently therewith the pilot member is released into the airstream whereupon the much heavier outer container moves forward and is shucked-ofl the inner lighter container as the forward velocity of the inner container is retarded by the pilot member in response to air pressure thereagainst as the inner container travels along its trajectory whereupon the inner container alone travels along this trajectory. During such travel the release mechanism is functioned by the pilot member.

When this occurs, the main parachute is withdrawn from the inner container and into the airstream by the pilot member and thereafter the static line is ripped from the parachute due to the releasable connection therebetween as the full force of the load on the pilot member is transmitted thereto as the parachute extends fully and thus the parachute is adapted to gently float the inner container to the ground when the forward velocity of the inner container has been spent.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A projectile of the character disclosed for recording information as the projectile is fired from a gun and travels along the trajectory, comprising inner and outer separable containers, said inner container having suitable recording instruments arranged therein, means including a pilot member detachably secured to said inner container and adapted to be forcibly ejected from said containers into the airstream for retarding the forward motion of the inner container sufliciently to cause the outer container to be separated therefrom in response to the retardation of the inner container with respect to the outer container, explosive means including a time delay fuze adapted to be fired in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from said gun for forcibly ejecting said last named means from said containers, a parachute arranged within the inner container and adapted to bewithdrawn therefrom into the airstream by said pilot member when the pilot member is detached from said inner container thereby to gently float the inner container to the ground when the forward motion of the inner container has reached a minimum value and the parachute is fully opened, means including a fluid actuated device secured to the inner container for detachably securing the pilot member to said inner container and adapted to detach the pilot member therefrom in response to a predetermined decrease in the pressure exerted on the fluid actuated defrom the parachute in response to the sudden shock exd erted thereon by the pilot member when the parachute is fully extended.

2. A projectile of the character disclosed for recording information as the projectile is fired from a gun and travels along the trajectory, comprising inner and outer separable containers, said inner container having suitable recording instruments arranged therein, means releasably secured to said outer container for preventing separation of said containers until said releasable means has been forcibly ejected from the outer container and the forward motion of the inner container has been retarded with respect to the motion of the outer container, means including a plurality of frangible pins for releasably securing said releasable means to said inner container, explosive means including a time delay fuze arranged within said inner container for forcibly ejecting the releasable means from said outer container as said frangible means is severed in response to the force of the explosion as said explosive means is fired, a pilot member detachably secured to said inner container by said releasable means for retarding said forward motion of the inner container when the pilot member is ejected therefrom, means effective as said releasable means is ejected from said outer container for ejecting said pilot member from the inner container and into the air stream, a parachute arranged within the inner container and secured thereto and adapted to be with: drawn therefrom into the airstream as the pilot member is detached from the inner container thereby to float the inner container to the ground when the forward motion of the inner container has reached a minimum value, means including a pressure responsive device secured to the inner container for detachably securing the pilot member thereto and adapted to detach the pilot member therefrom in response to the pressure exerted thereon by the pilot member as the pilot member travels through said airstream, and flexible means secured to the pilot member and detachably secured to said parachute for withdrawing the parachute from the inner container when the pilot member is detached therefrom, said flexible means being adapted to be detached from the parachute in response to the sudden shock exerted thereon by the pilot member when the parachute is fully extended thereby.

3. A projectile of the character disclosed adapted to be fired from a gun and comprising an inner container having suitable recording instruments arranged therein, an outer casing releasably secured to said container and adapted to be released and detached therefrom as the forward motion of the container is retarded with respect to said motion of the casing, means releasably secured to said casing for maintaining the casing secured to the container, an explosive charge arranged within said container I for forcibly releasing said maintaining means thereby to release the casing from the container as said explosive charge is fired, time delay means disposed within the container for firing said explosive charge in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from said gun, a pilot device disposed within the container and ejectable therefrom into the airstream for retarding said forward motion of the container after said releasable means is detached from said casing, means for ejecting said pilot device into the air stream, a parachute disposed within said container and operatively connected to said pilot device for gently floating the container to the ground when said parachute has been withdrawn from the container into the airstream and said motion of the container has reached a minimum value, a pressure operated mechanism secured to said container and releasably connected to said pilot device, means on said mechanism for detachably locking the pilot device thereto, valve means arranged within said mechanism and actuated in response to the initial pressure exerted thereon as the pilot device is released into said airstream for delaying detachment of the pilot member from said mechanism and withdrawal of the parachute from said container, means secured to said pilot device and detachably se- 7 cured to said parachute for Withdrawing the parachute as said locking means is detached from said "mechanism, and means on said-mechanism for maintaining the pilot device locked to said mechanism until the forward motion of said pilot device has decreased sufficiently to reduce said pressure on said valve means.

4. A projectile of the character disclosed adapted to be fired from a gun and comprising an inner container having suitable recording instruments arranged therein, an outer casing releasably secured to said container and adapted to be released and detached therefrom as the forward motion of the container is retarded with respect to said motion of the casing, securing means including a plurality of shear elements for releasably attaching the casing to the container, explosive means arranged within said inner container for shearing said shear elements and forcibly detaching said securing means from said casing in response 'to the force of the explosion as the explosive means is fired, 'a time delay fuze for firing said explosive means in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from a gun, a pilot device arranged within said container and ejectable therefrom into the airstream after said explosive means is fired for retarding said forward motion of the container, means for ejecting said pilot device into the airstream, means including a'parachute disposed within the container and operatively connected to said pilot device for gently floating the container to the ground when said parachute has been withdrawn from the container and said motion of the container has reached a minimum value, a fluid operated mechanism secured to said container and releasably connected to said 'pilot device, a latch member on said pilot device for releasably locking the pilot device to said mechanism, a piston arranged within said mechanism and actuated by said pilot device, valve means arranged within said piston and actuated by said fluid in response to the initial pressure exerted on the piston as the pilot device is ejected into said airstream for delay ing the release of the pilot device from said mechanism and withdrawal of the parachute from said container until said forward motion of the pilot device has decreased sufficiently to reduce the pressure on said piston, means on said mechanism for releasing said latch member therefrom when said pressure on the piston has been reduced, and flexible means secured to said pilot device and detachably secured to said parachute for withdrawing the parachute from said container when said latch member is released, said flexible means being adapted to be detached from the parachute in response to the sudden shock exerted thereon by the pilot member when said latch member is released and the parachute is fully withdrawn from the container.

'5. A projectile of the character disclosed adapted to be tired from a gun and comprising an inner container having suitable recording instruments arranged therein, an outer casingreleasably secured to and enclosing the container and adapted to be released and detached therefrom when the forward motion of the inner container has been retarded with respect to said motion of the casing, means including a plug releasably secured to said casing for maintaining the casing secured tothe container until the plug has been forcibly detached from the casing, explosive means including a time delay fuze adapted to be fired in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of the projectile from said gun for forcibly detaching said plug from the casing in response to the force of the explosion as said explosive means is fired, a parachute arranged within said container and adapted to be with-' drawn therefrom thereby to gently float the inner container to the ground when said forward motion thereof has reached a minimum value, a pilot device arranged Within the container and releasably secured thereto for retarding said forward motion of the inner container when the pilot device is ejected therefrom into the airstrcam, means for ejecting said pilot device from the container into the airstream when said plug has been detached from the casing, means including a hydraulically controlled release mechanism secured to said container and having a time delay valve therein which is rendered operable for unidirectional fluid flow therethrough by a pull exerted on said mechanism by said pilot device for References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,894,954 Johnson Jan. 24, 1933 1,978,641 Martin Oct. 30, 1934 2,112,614 Wiley Mar. 29, 1938 2,478,758 Frieder Aug. 9, 1949 2,582,113 Finken et a1. Jan. 8, 1952 

